Higher education, higher bills

Albany-- If you thought the cost of higher education was already too expensive, get ready to shell out even more money.

College education costs continue to climb. According to the College Board, the cost of one year at college rose faster than inflation this year.

The average cost for a year at an in-state public college or university is about $12,000, up a little more than 4% from this time last year. Albany State's Financial Aid Director says the best way to avoid rising costs is preparation.

"Preparation is always the best key. One thing is that scholarship dollars are typically coming from a limited source and are first come first served. It's not necessarily the most qualified student but the most qualified student who applies the earliest," said Harris.

Harris says students should start applying for scholarships early and work hard to get those grades to qualify for academic-based funding. That can significantly reduce the amount of money spent on higher education.